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Breaking Bad’s RJ Mitte to host Paralympics for Channel 4

Breaking Bad star RJ Mitte is confirmed to join Channel 4’s all-star presenting team for this year’s Paralympic Games in Rio.

Mitte, who’s best known for playing Walter Jr. on the hit AMC meth drama, will join Clare Balding, Adam Hills, Sophie Morgan, Jonathan Edwards, Lee McKenzie and JJ Chalmers on Channel 4’s team of broadcasters.

In fact, disabled representation on the Paralympics presenting team this year will be the highest that it’s ever been, with two-thirds of the on-air presenters covering the Games in September being themselves disabled.

If you happen to have read our impassioned opinion piece on the under representation of disability on TV, which gave special props to Mitte’s portrayal of Walter Jr. in Breaking Bad, you’ll know why this is a big deal to us, and to the community in general.

“I have nothing but admiration for these superhuman athletes who refuse to be confined by what nature has dictated. I cannot wait to witness them push themselves to the limit and be a part of Channel 4’s ground-breaking coverage”, says Mitte of his new gig.

Each night of this year’s Paralympic Games will also feature Adam Hills and a revolving set of panellists on special editions of The Last Leg from Olympic Park.

“From the day the London 2012 Paralympics ended, I’ve been in training for Rio”, says Hills. “I’ve been working on writing better jokes, hosting as many shows as I can, linking to ad breaks as seamlessly as possible… It’s been a long, hard road, of blood, sweat and tears – but now I’m ready to try to set a personal best at Rio”.